Beyond the Mask Page #4

that I've had trying

to re-establish us in good society

after your recent disastrous engagement.

It was one dinner with a very...

polite family.

A polite family. They are rebels.

They are traitors and haven't you seen

the chaos they've been creating.

Yes, I imagine that violence

reminds you of India.

Is that not how it was there?

Charlotte, I think you should

confine yourself to the house

for the next few days.

These are dangerous times.

And I do not want your life jeopardized.

Thank you for meeting me.

It's an honor.

I wanted to thank you

for intervening that night.

And for warning me.

We're all very grateful for your efforts

to stand between the innocent people

and those who wish

to commit violence against them.

Do you include your uncle

in that statement?

So you said he was the cause

of what happened.

I've not wanted to believe you.

Yet I saw him meet with one

of the instigators of that violence.

- What am I to do?

- There's nothing you can do.

- For now.

- Then why are you here?

To warn you.

The annual mayor's ball in New York.

Your uncle has plans for that event.

And so do I.

In the end, the truth will win out.

- I have evidence.

- Evidence?

If that's true, why wait until then?

What stays your hand?

Ms. Holloway...

do you believe in redemption?

Can a man...

who has made his life a web of lies...

earn trust again?

Well, that is a difficult question.

Of course, I believe in forgiveness.

It helps if... that man is willing...

to set aside his deception.

- I'm sorry. Someone's coming.

- Charlotte.

You knew a man once...

who was charged with many crimes

he did not commit.

And the crimes he did commit...

are a heavy burden upon him still.

- Will...

- He had much to repay.

I lied to you.

I lied to you about many things,

but I never lied to you about us.

I never thought I'd see you again.

William, what's happening?

I don't understand.

I love you.

And I wanted you to know.

You of all people.

- That William Reynolds...

- Charlotte.

- I must go.

- No.

Charlotte.

There you are.

I thought you had retired.

Was there someone...

Anyway, there was something

I've got to tell you.

Once a year in New York,

they throw a masquerade ball.

Everyone attends.

I was wondering whether you would care

to accompany your old uncle.

My apologies.

May I have this dance?

Why, hardly.

Duke of Kent's Waltz, do you know it?

- No.

- Then follow my lead.

You look lovely this evening.

Making it difficult for me to keep

my eyes on General Washington.

Why are you watching General Washington?

My uncle wouldn't dare do anything

to harm the General.

Not in front of so many witnesses.

Are you so certain?

He has used bombs before.

I may need to call upon you to

corroborate me before the night is over.

William, I need to know

that I can trust you.

You can, my dear. I will show you.

Promise me... whatever happens,

you will tell the truth.

Please, no more lies.

Yes, Charlotte.

I promise.

No more.

He's here. And he's wearing the jacket.

Might I bother you to spend...

I must go.

- He attacked the General.

- What's this, then?

- You're in danger, sir.

- I saw it all, General.

- This man came at you with that knife.

- That's not true.

I saw it as well.

He tried to assassinate you, sir.

Who are you?

- I'm...

- I know who he is.

Mr. Kemp.

I believe that you have read about

this fellow in your English newspapers.

That...

is the notorious villain...

William Reynolds.

Is that not the barbarian who committed

the atrocities in India?

- The very one, sir.

- Did he not die?

General, all you've read is a lie...

put forth by Charles Kemp because

of what I know from my service to him.

- Take him away, sir.

- Wait. Let him continue.

I have evidence... proving

that Charles Kemp was a guiding force

behind the violence committed in India

by the East India Company.

And more recently, the violence

committed in Philadelphia.

Once you see it, you'll agree. He should

be arrested and stand trial for his crimes.

What is this farce?

Is this some kind of joke?

General, listen to me.

The package has been switched.

It originally contained a report

I obtained nine months ago

outlining Mr. Kemp's misdeeds in India.

Let us suppose this document

really existed,

it would have prevented

the bombings in Philadelphia.

As you yourself have said, it's been

in your possession for nine months.

Now, what innocent man would not have

handed it over directly to the authorities?

Charlotte.

Son... are you William Reynolds?

Yes... I am.

If the evidence is as it appears,

then this man hangs at dawn

for spying and armed sedition.

Take him away.

You and Charlotte

were never the same sort.

Will.

- William.

- Charlotte.

I kept my promise.

I told the truth.

But I was at fault to put all my trust

in that Parliamentary Report.

- Now it's gone.

- I don't understand what's happening.

You told me you had evidence.

Why... why did you wait?

Could you have stopped

the killing in Philadelphia?

I waited because of you.

- I did it all for you.

- For me?

I've been trying to become the man

that is... somehow worthy of you.

Of the respect you once gave me.

William, do you mean

to tell me that you...

You were letting people die to somehow

earn redemption? Or my love?

I... I've known no other path.

I fooled myself into thinking

that I could be a good man.

That God would hear me.

Don't you know...

neither redemption or love

can ever be earned.

You have but to ask.

They're both gifts...

gifts to be granted freely

from the heart of God.

And from my heart to yours.

You're a genius, sir.

No, it was easy actually.

He was in business

for himself all along.

Charlotte, my dear.

Is there news from Philadelphia?

The Doctor's arrived. Mr. Jefferson

completed the Declaration...

to be read to Congress in the morning,

then voted on.

In the morning?

Lord...

despite the crimes of this man,

I know you know them fully...

I pray you redeem his life.

Redeem him.

And if I am to take part in your mercy,

please instruct me in what I must do.

The entire city will be in ashes,

all in a matter of seconds.

Brilliant, Doctor. Brilliant.

Remote detonation.

The entire Continental Congress

will cease to exist.

And the best of all the blame

will fall on William Reynolds,

the colony's very own Guy Fawkes.

Saucy knave. Believed he was

good enough to marry my niece.

I begin to suspect her loyalty, sir.

If she so much as visits his grave,

I want her dead.

She becomes more like her

sanctimonious father every day.

Reverend, I had a deal with God.

But it turns out the name

William Reynolds...

was too evil for even him to redeem.

I'll be getting what I deserve tomorrow.

Actually, someone else

already got what you deserve.

- Visitor for the condemned man.

- He's in the hold.

It's a lady. She wishes

to see him up on the main deck.

- You shouldn't be here.

- I had to see you.

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